Michigan

Michigan Beats Michigan St 79-70 For League Lead

Adreian Payne #5 of the Michigan State Spartans makes a first half pass around Caris LeVert #23 of the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center on February 23, 2014 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) – Nik Stauskas scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half, and No. 20 Michigan beat No. 13 Michigan State 79-70 on Sunday to take over first place in the Big Ten.

Caris LeVert added 23 points for the Wolverines (19-7, 11-3), who won both regular-season meetings against their in-state rivals. Michigan has now won six of its last eight against Michigan State.

The Spartans (22-6, 11-4) led by as many as 11 in the first half, but Michigan State was only up 36-34 at halftime. Then Stauskas and LeVert led a second-half charge. The Wolverines trailed 52-51 before going on a decisive 17-4 run that sent the Crisler Center crowd into delirium.